Panel upholstery and method of applying same



Aug. 26, 1930. B. M. STANNARD 1,774,191

PANEL UPHOLSTERY AND METHOD OF APPLYING SA IE 7 Filed Aprgll l, 1929INVENTOR HIS, ATTORNEY.

I Druca fifannaray P tented Aug. 26. 1930 V 1 UNITED "STATES ATENTOFFICE",

.IBRUCE M. STANNARD, or: BINGHAMTON, NEW ,YORK, AssiGnOR 'ro nitnw'nn- 1v TITCHENER CORPORATION, OF CORT AN New YORK, A oonron'arion onnnw.

YORK

Application filed' April 1,

'- The present invention is a continuation in part of my pen'dingapplication Serial No. 302,173, filed Aug. 127,1928and relates tocomposite panels or the like,-more particularly to chair members suchasprovide for a one-piece metal seat or back panel to which upholsteredpads may be applied in a neat and efiective manner. An objectis toprovide for a chair member of this character in which cushionedupholstery fabric may be firmly secured into any grooved seat or backpanel by the use of anendless clamping band a'dapted to embed the fabricborder into such groove in an improved and novel manner. An importantconstructive feature resides in the use of stretchable clamping meansthat permits of securing the cover fabric inwardly of the panelperimeter and whlch cover 1s m turn' reenforced by an underlyingbackingplate. As.

an additional differentiation, the groove wall spacing is preferablykept wider than the thickness of the inserted clamping strap to the endthat a clearancegap may be provided for around the exterior of theassembled bands Such improved disposition on part of the fabric blnder,readlly compensates for expected differences in the run of fabric heftand likewise for all ordinaryvariations of fabricationin either thepanel groove'width or the rin g'filler thickness.

A. further object consists in constructive features that facilitaterapid and economical.

securement of said upholstery covering 011 a productive scale at theleast expenditure of labor and the minimum of fabric waste re-' sultingfrom defective pads. Embodied herein are further structural detailsandamode of manipulation, for applying upholstery to either metal or Woodenpanels designed to accomplish the foregoing and related purposes, all ofwhich will be more explicitly set forth hereinafter. L i

Reference is had to the annexed one sheet of drawings which areillustrative of'certain specific embodiments-of my invention, likecharacters" of reference indicate like parts, and in which drawings:

Fig. 1 shows a top View of my upholstered metal seat panel adaptedfor-use in QOIIIIGC".

tion with foldable seats, and Fig. 2 is a cross PANEL UPHOLSTERYANDfME'lHOD or APPLYINGSAME 1929. Serial No. 35I,603.

sectional view thereof as taken along line if Fig. 5 represents enlargedfragmental view of Fig.2 and discloses the relationship of the 2. 12 ofFig. 1 to indicatethe manner in which component upholstery elementspriortoforc} ing said ring into an endless panel groove,

while Fig. 6 is illustrative of the aforesaid upholstery after saidsealing ring'has been secured in place but" prior to trimming the marginof the upholstery fabric.

Fig-,7 shows a sectional view similar to Fig. 6 except that said fabrichasnow'been perimetrically trimmed to completetmy seat pholste y POcess' The present disclosure is more largely concerned with perfectingsaid upholstered cushion ineansas applied to a unitary sheet-metal panelaffording an endless'gr'oove into which the fabric margins may befirmlysecured. Referring indetail to the drawingsyFig. l

shows the annular top or'body'contactingseat side faceC? of my one piecesheet-metal frame or panel as equipt with. my improved uphol v'steredcushion mounting, 'itbeing apparent thatv by identical means suchupholstery might likewise be applied to the forward orbody contactingface of a chair back, also'to any kind of fixedly mounted paneliotherthan the -foldable metal. chair'type herein fmore specificallydescribed. f f

Aswill be seen from the sectional views,

my relatively thin sheet-metal panel pro-x vide for an annular topsideface'C preferably having the marginal edges thereof d'ownturned into 'adepending circumscribi'ng I flange C designed toaugmentthe normalstiffness of the fiat'top plate- Withinlthe confines of said flangethere mayfurther be provided a sunken endless groove Cthavingvcomplementary inner and outer side-wall faces C and C respectively,that are perimetrically disposed in rectangular relation tothe'panelside and kept'amply spaced, to provide for a relatively widegroove dimension W therebetween.

The bottom of said side walls may be integrally interconnected by ashown somewhat shorter than its mate with its uppermost edge fashionedinto a centering bead C this in turn, may be spanned by an integrallyformed dished crown plate element C that may be slightly depressedrelative to the level of the top face as shown. It is emphasized thatsaid plate serves as a backing means for laterally reenforcing myupholstery fabric and as used in association with an endless bindingmeans, constitutes an important feature of the present invention.

The particular plan contour given to said groove C is immaterial; asapplied to a seat frame, its shape may be made somewhat unsymmetrical inthe fashion shown in Fig. 1, where a substantially straight lengthportion is provided adjacent to the swingable outermostedge of thisparticular seat disclosure whiletoward the pivoted rear seat edge, saidgroove may be given a more rounded shape that recedes from therespectivecontiguous corners of the substantially square shapehere givento the seat face. If

desired, said rear seat corners may each be equipt with an outwardlyprojecting stop lug such as C and this may be further attached to theseat flange C by strap means such as C that respectively terminate in aperforated hinge element C Each of the rear corner regions may furtherbe provided with depressions oftriangular. shape such as C,

which feature ishowever non-essential except for decorative purposes.

The upholstered cushioning pad E as applied to my metal seat or backpanel, is associated with an endless clamping ring or band E which asdetailed in Figs. 3 and e, is

preferably made'up from strap stock bent into an endless loop thatclosely conforms to the shape and size given to the innermost groovewall C and is intended to be stretched somewhat when said band is forcedinto place. The ends of said ring may be fastened together in anysuitable fashion but to facili tate ease and cheapness infabrication,'it is preferred to resort to the interlocking style ofkeeper joint E indicated in Fig. l but the ring ends may also besoldered, welded or otherwise oined together.

,Said cushioning means mayfurther comprise a sheet of pliable textilesuch as tapestry fabric, leather, leatheroid, or the like suitable gatedpaper board orv the like sheet filler medium E superimposed thereon isshown a relatively thick layer ofwadding E preferably comprising felt orother soft fibrous cushioning material.

Both the filler medium E and the cushioning material E are intended tobe first cut out of sheet stock to an approximate size or shape somewhatsmaller than the contour dclined by the inner groove wall C in themanner indicated by Fig. 5, where the component upholstery parts areshown partially assembled and centered upon the depressed panel plate Cprior to their securem'ent to said metal. panel. The inside dimension ofmy stretchable metal sealing band E is preferably made of bore size thatwill properly embracethe outermost dimension given to the groove wall Chence when this ring is firmly pressed down into the groove with themargin of the fabric E interposed in clamped relation therebetween inthe fashion indicated in Fig. 6, said fabric thereby becomes snuglydrawn and stretched over the enclosed sheet wadding E*, which in turncauses the edges of the latter cushioning medium to assume a soi'newhattapered form that imparts a neat rounded appearance to the finishedupholstery as a whole. It will be observed that the external ringdimension is not allowed to fill the whole of the groove width W in theconventional manner but (see Fig. 6) is purposely so disposed as toleave a. clearance gap W between the circumscribing groove wall 0 andthe exterior of the embedded fabric, which gap is made sufiicientlylarge to prevent clamping the perilnetric fabric portion outwardlyagainst the last named wall.

By the use of a suitable knife or cutter, adapted to reach through saidgap, the projecting edge of the fabric may thereupon be trimmed offadjacent to the exposed free hottommost ring edge in the fashion shownin Fig. 7. Said ring is preferably made of a strap width approximatelyequal to the effective depth of the groove C so that said exposed ringedge may fall substantially flush with the beaded perin'ieter of thepanel plate C and assuming this ring to have been previously nickelplated, the finished upholstery may thereby be given an exceedinglyeffective trim. It will be obvious that the de scribed band. securementis intended to be kept to proper size such as will frictionally maintainthe fabric in a proper stretched relation across that portion of thebody contact facing that is circumscribed by said frame groove and thatthe provision for a gap clearance space VJ prevents dragging or crimpingthe fabric border portion downwardly toward the transverse groove wall Cbut instead confines the frictional draw on part of the band to thatfabric portion lying inteiorly of said band.

A further structural feature resides in cooperatively disposing theupholstered fabric cover E relative to the underlying backing sionedfabric to be relieved rather than augmentecl under increased seat load;hence my binder hoop does not need any supple-' mentary' fastenings toprevent its being dislodged even when merely retained in place byfrictional clamping engagement. My

hoop is preferably entered in such fashion that it simultaneously tucksthe entire fabric perimeter into the panel groove, and thereupon servestocontinuously bind the fabric margin against only the'innermost groovewall.

The mode of applying fabric to a metal panel is thought to have beenmade manifest by the foregoing description; taking up my improved methodfor assembling said article,

the steps involved may be more specifically defined as follows:

Firstly, providing for a. panel and forming in one of its sides, agroove of the relatively wide endless type secondly, placing a fabricupon said panel side in an overlapping covered relation to said groove;thirdly, tucking the fabric border region down into the panel groove bymeans of a relatively narrow band that is sized to be stretched andfrictionally hold the fabric border in en gagement with the innermostgroove face C but still provide for a clearance gap W therearoundrelative to the outermost or circumscribing groove face C and lastly,reaching into said gap with a cutter to trim on the surplus fabricborder lying in close adjacency to the bottommost edge of the insertedband, the thrust of thecutting edge being counteracted by the underlyingbottom wall 0 of the panel groove. i 'By the use of the describedinstrumentalities, the metal seat and back frame panels of a chair orthe like, may first be japan finished in any desired color, whereupon aharmonized shade of fabric may be appliedthereto, all of which resultsin producing a pleas- 7 ing and attractive upholstered product; Thenon-metallic cushioning medium when attached to my metal panel furtherremoves the disagreeable cold seat feel to which a user of an all-metalchair might otherwise be subjected, In addition, my sheet-metal seatpanel by virtue of the described, groove formation and its circumscribedflange reenforcement, is made relatively stiff and amply rigid to resistundue distortion under normal body loads, and the mode of initiallystretching and securing the upholstery thereon is such as will duringextended use, obviate loosening or sagging on part of the fabric. Thisresult is herein obtained in a simple and expeditious mannerwithoutneedof resorting to nails, prongs, cement or 'otherextrane one ring or:fabric securement-of anyxki-nd. 'Alth'ough certainspecific embodimentsand sh pes of'metal seat members have herein been setforth, I do notwish to be limited to-the cited'arrangement or form of panel parts,since variouschanges may: be resorted to, all Without departing-from thespiritand scope of my invention, heretofore described and morespecifically pointed outin' the appended claims." V

Claims 2 v 1. A seat panel'having an endless groove sunk into oneside'thereof and which groovecomprises spaced innerandouter wall faces,an-upholstery material positioned upon said one panel sidej with theborder thereof en- 7 tered into saidgroove, and securing means of theendless band type positioned over said inner groove face and clampingthe fabric 'border'thereto', said g'roovefaces being sufiici entlyspaced to provide a clearance gap larger thanthe thickness of saidmaterial as disposed between the band outer wall face. I 1 '2. A unitarysheet-metal panel compris ing a centrally disposed backing plate havexterior and the ing an endless rabbet-like groove Wall "element-circumscribing said plate and which wall is disposed inwardly fromthe panel perimeter, an upholstery coveringfor said backing plate, andametallic band interiorly sizedto be expanded into embracing relationwith said wall and clamp the interposed fabric border regionthereagai-nst", said hoop being simultaneouslyforced into saidembracing" relation through theflength thereof. v

3. A one-piece panel comprising'a substair tially rigidandnon-extensible backing face circumscribed'by an'endless sunken groovethat isinset from the panel perimeter, a pliant covering material"superimposed upon said fac'einflstretched "cooperative relation, and anendless binding hoop entered into said groove, the width'spacing givento said groove being such as-to provide a'clearance gap aroundtheexterior of the enteredjhoop and which gapis w'iderthan'the thicknessof said'covering material. r

centrally disposed backing plate having a 4. A unitary sneet-fmetalpanel comprising 7 spaced double-walled struck-up ridge circumscribingsaid plate and which ridge is in-* set from the panel perimeter, anupholstery web means covering said plate with a web border region tuckedbetween the walls of said ridge, and an endless hoop entered be tweenthe walls of said ridge and frictionally clamping said web border regionagainstthe innermost of the ridge walls, the exterior of the hoop beingspaced from the outermost ridge Wall by a distance greater than the'webthickness to provide clearance therebetween.

5. A panel having a groove associated with one panel face and whichgroove comprises" spaced endless inner and outer walls, an upholsteryfabric spanning the panel region encompassed by the groove and having afabric border region entered into said groove, and hoop means enteredinto the groove and over the inner wall thereof to clamp said fabricborder region therebetween, said groove walls being suificientlyispacedto allow of inserting a cutting ,tool into said'groove exteriorly of ethe hoop and sever the surplus fabric portion lying immediately beyondthe first entered edge of the assembled hoop.

6. The method of fabricatinga chair panel or the like and which methodconsists: firstly,

in providing a grooved backing base means; secondly, in placing acovering material upon said base in overlapping relation to the groovethereof; thirdly, by theuse of hoop means, entering the coveringmaterial into the groove of said base and binding said ma terialtherein, said base serving to support the surplus border materialportion extending beyond the entered hoop; and fourthly, while thussupported trimming the surplus fabric material lying exteriorlycontiguous to the first'entered hoop edge.

7. The method of upholstering panels or the like having one face thereofprovided with a sunken groove comprising comple- Inentary inner andouter side-walls together with an interconnecting bottom wall and whichgroove is adapted to receive a stretchable binding hoop means thereinwhile the complementary walls thereof are sufiiciently spaced to providefor a clearance gap along the exteriorof the entered hoop, and whichmethod consists: firstly, in placing an upholstery cover upon said onepanelface with the cover border disposed to overlap the inner groovewall; secondly, by the use of said hoop entered into said groove,causing said overlapping border region to be clamped about the innerside-wall and bringing a portion of the cover border into adjacency withsaid bottom wall; and thirdly, severing the surplus cover border lyingexteriorly of and contiguous to the first entered hoop edge by theintroduction of a cutter within the aforesaid clearance gap, saidbottomwall upholding said adjacent cover portion while the cutter severs saidsurplus border.

In testimony whereof, I have herewith set my hand this 29th day ofMarch, 1929.

BRUCE M. STANNARD.

